President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Woro, a village in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where Boko Haram terrorists killed dozens of villagers in an overnight attack.

It was earlier reported that Boko Haram terrorists, operating under the command of Mallam Sadiku, killed approximately 170 locals during the attack, which lasted for several hours. While the state government placed the casualty figure at 75, the Red Cross indicated that 162 deaths had been confirmed as of Wednesday evening.

President Tinubu's directive was conveyed in a statement issued late Wednesday by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. Mr Onanuga stated: "President Tinubu said the new military command will spearhead Operation Savannah Shield to checkmate the barbaric terrorists and protect defenceless communities."

The President condemned the "cowardly and beastly attack" and described the terrorists as "heartless" for targeting the residents of the village. According to the statement, Mr Tinubu believes that the villagers, who were Muslims, were killed for refusing to be "conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue."

Mr Onanuga noted that the President commended the victims for rejecting the radical Islam being propagated by the terrorists. Furthermore, the President urged collaboration between federal and state agencies to provide succour to members of the community and "ensure those who committed the atrocities do not go scot-free."

Mr Onanuga added: "President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and condoled with those who lost family members."

According to residents, the attack commenced around 5:00 pm on Tuesday and lingered for several hours until the terrorists vacated the community early Wednesday morning.

It was reported that the attack occurred about five months after the terror group sent a warning letter, informing the District Head of Woro, Salihu Umar, that they intended to visit to preach their radical ideology. Mr Umar reported the matter to the Ilorin Emirate Council and secured the posting of soldiers to his community, a move which sources believed prevented the terrorists from arriving as earlier planned. Locals now suspect that the recent attack could be in retaliation for the invitation of the military to the community.

Earlier, Reuters quoted a local politician, Sa'idu Ahmed, as estimating the death toll at 40, noting that more bodies were likely to be found. By Wednesday evening, local sources claimed the casualty figures had risen to 170. However, Rafiu Ajakaiye, the spokesperson to the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stated that the Emir of Kaiama confirmed 75 people dead when the governor's team visited him at his palace in Kaiama.

It has not been possible to independently verify these contrasting figures.

The police in Kwara have confirmed the attack, stating that several people were killed, others injured, and homes and properties destroyed. Sources in the area revealed that Mr Umar's palace was among the structures set on fire.

The Police Spokesperson in the state, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said police tactical teams, in collaboration with the military, forest guards, and local vigilantes, have been deployed to secure the area, while investigations are underway to track the attackers, who reportedly fled towards the Kainji National Park forest.

After reigning terror in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction reportedly relocated to the Kainji Forest Reserve in July last year. Sources, including ex-members of the group, disclosed that the faction left its former stronghold due to sustained military aerial offensives and infighting with Dogo Gide, a notorious bandit leader whom Mallam Sadiku had collaborated with to stage violent attacks in the North-West and North-Central regions.

The group had previously operated from the Alawa Forest Reserve in Shiroro LGA, where its campaign of terror had driven locals away from their homes. Barely four months after its relocation, the group invaded Papiri, a community on the fringes of Kainji National Park, kidnapping over 300 students and staff from St Mary's Catholic School.

In January, the group also invaded Kasuwan Daji, killing more than 30 locals and kidnapping women and children. Sources in the area stated that the captives remain with the group.